Manipulation of User Attention with Respect to a Simulated Field of View for Geographic Navigation Via Constrained Focus on, Perspective Attraction to, and/or Correction and Dynamic Adjustment of, Points of Interest

• US 20130222364A1
• Filed: 02/29/2012
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Lynch, James D., Kraus, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,791,290 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/003 Navigation within 3D models or images

Abstract

Manipulation of a user'"'"'s attention is disclosed with respect to a point of interest represented in a simulated field of view of a geographic locality during simulation of travel between locations therein, such as by a computer-implemented navigation system or application. As a user virtually navigates a route, the simulated field of view presented on a display thereto may be constrained, immediately or gradually to an orientation, different from the direction of travel or otherwise from an orientation selected by the user, which focuses on, or otherwise includes the point of interest, or a representation thereof. In this manner, the user'"'"'s attention is directed or otherwise drawn to the point of interest, e.g. they are less likely to miss or ignore it.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of manipulating a user'"'"'s attention with respect to a point of interest represented in a simulated field of view of a geographic locality during simulation of travel between locations therein, the method comprising:

receiving, from a user via a user interface coupled with a processor, a request to simulate travel via a route from a starting location of a plurality of locations within the geographic locality toward a destination location of the plurality of locations within the geographic locality, the route comprising a plurality of intermediate observation locations within the geographic locality sequentially via which the travel is to be simulated;

identifying, by the processor, the POI, the POI being located at a POI location of a plurality of locations within the geographic locality;

presenting, by the processor on a display coupled therewith, a simulated field of view comprising a first representation of a first subset of observable locations of a first set of observable locations within the geographic locality, the first set of observable locations comprising those locations of the plurality of locations within the geographic locality which would be visible to an observer oriented in any orientation and located at a first intermediate observation location of the plurality of intermediate observation locations of the route, the first subset of observable locations comprising those locations of the first set of observable locations which would be visible to an observer oriented in a first orientation and located at the first intermediate observation location;

computing, by the processor based on a relationship between the POI location of the identified POI and the second intermediate observation location, a second orientation of the observer located at the second intermediate observation location whereby, based thereon, a second subset of observable locations of a second set of observable locations would be visible thereto, the second set of observable locations comprising those locations of the plurality of locations of the geographic locality which would be visible to the observer oriented in any orientation and located at a second intermediate observation location of the plurality of intermediate observation locations of the route to which travel of the observer from the first intermediate observation location is to be simulated, the second orientation being different from both a third orientation, oriented in a direction of travel from the first intermediate observation location to the second intermediate observation location, and a fourth orientation, oriented in a direction of travel from the second intermediate observation location to a third intermediate observation location of the plurality of intermediate observation locations of the route to which travel of the observer from the second intermediate observation location is to be simulated; and

presenting, by the processor on the display coupled therewith upon simulated arrival at the second intermediate observation location, the simulated field of view comprising a second representation of the second subset of observable locations.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the POI comprises an advertisement located at the POI location.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the identifying further comprises receiving compensation from an entity associated with the POI and, based thereon, the computing further comprises computing the second orientation to be toward the POI.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the identifying further comprises identifying the POI based on a profile of the user and, based thereon, the computing further comprises computing the second orientation to be toward the POI.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the processor is further coupled with an image database having stored therein a plurality of images, each of which is representative of a portion of the geographic locality as viewed from a particular location of the plurality of locations therein, and wherein the computing further comprising selecting an image from the image database which most closely comprises the second subset of observable locations over the other images stored in the image database, the presenting of the second representation comprising presentation of the selected image.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising determining, by the processor, that, for a third subset of observable locations of the second set of observable locations which includes those locations of the second set of observable locations which would be visible to the observer located at the second intermediate observation location and oriented in the fourth orientation, the third subset of observable locations does not include the POI location, and, based thereon, further computing, by the processor, the second orientation such that the second subset of observable locations includes the POI location.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 6 wherein the extent to which the second orientation is computed to be toward the POI location is a function of the proximity of the second intermediate observation location to the POI location.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 7 wherein the extent to which the second orientation is computed to be toward the POI location is further a function of a difference between the third and fourth orientations and a fifth orientation oriented from the second observation location directly toward the POI location.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 6 wherein the second orientation is computed to be more toward the POI location than the first orientation when the second intermediate observation location is geographically closer to the POI location than the first intermediate observation location and wherein the second orientation is computed to be more away from the POI location than the first orientation when the second intermediate observation location is geographically further from the POI location than the first intermediate observation location.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 6 further comprising augmenting a representation of the POI within the second representation so as to visually distinguish the representation from a remainder of the second representation.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising determining, by the processor, that, for a third subset of observable locations of the second set of observable locations which includes those locations of the second set of observable locations which would be visible to the observer located at the second intermediate observation location and oriented in the fourth orientation, the third subset of observable locations includes the POI location, and, based thereon, further computing, by the processor, the second orientation such that the second subset of observable locations does not include the POI location.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 1 determining, by the processor, that the second set of observable locations does not include the POI location and, based thereon, altering the second representation to include a representation of the POI as if the POI location were included in the second subset of observable locations.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the second orientation comprises a direction from the second intermediate observation location towards the POI location.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the POI is further characterized by a POI orientation, the presenting of the simulated field of view comprising the second representation further comprising determining whether the POI orientation is oriented toward the second observation location and, if the POI orientation is not oriented toward the second observation location, modifying a perceived orientation of a representation of the POI as presented within the simulated field of view so as to appear oriented toward the second observation location.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 14 wherein the modifying further comprises modifying the perceived orientation of the representation of the POI so as to increase visual perceptibility of the representation of the POI to the user.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 14 wherein the modifying further comprises generating a representation of a polygon in the simulated field of view so as to appear located at the POI location and overlaying the representation of the POI over the polygon, modifying a perspective of the polygon with respect to the simulated field of view and applying similar modifications to the representation of the POI.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 14 wherein the computing further comprises minimizing a difference between the second and fourth orientations by adjusting the orientation of the representation of the POI.

18. A system for manipulation of a user'"'"'s attention with respect to a point of interest represented in a simulated field of view of a geographic locality during simulation of travel between locations therein, the system comprising a processor and a memory coupled therewith, the system further comprising:

first computer program logic stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the processor to receive, from a user via a user interface coupled with the processor, a request to simulate travel via a route from a starting location of a plurality of locations within the geographic locality toward a destination location of the plurality of locations within the geographic locality, the route comprising a plurality of intermediate observation locations within the geographic locality sequentially via which the travel is to be simulated;

second computer program logic stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the processor to identify the POI, the POI being located at a POI location of a plurality of locations within the geographic locality;

third computer program logic stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the processor to present on a display coupled therewith, a simulated field of view comprising a first representation of a first subset of observable locations of a first set of observable locations within the geographic locality, the first set of observable locations comprising those locations of the plurality of locations within the geographic locality which would be visible to an observer oriented in any orientation and located at a first intermediate observation location of the plurality of intermediate observation locations of the route, the first subset of observable locations comprising those locations of the first set of observable locations which would be visible to the observer oriented in a first orientation and located at the first intermediate observation location;

fourth computer program logic stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the processor to compute, based on a relationship between the POI location and the second intermediate observation location, a second orientation of the observer located at the second intermediate observation location whereby, based thereon, a second subset of observable locations of a second set of observable locations would be visible thereto, the second set of observable locations comprising those locations of the plurality of locations of the geographic locality which would be visible to the observer oriented in any orientation and located at a second intermediate observation location of the plurality of intermediate observation locations of the route to which travel of the observer from the first intermediate observation location is to be simulated, the second orientation being different from both a third orientation, oriented in a direction of travel from the first intermediate observation location to the second intermediate observation location, and a fourth orientation, oriented in a direction of travel from the second intermediate observation location to a third intermediate observation location of the plurality of intermediate observation locations of the route to which travel of the observer from the second intermediate observation location is to be simulated; and

fifth computer program logic stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the processor to present on the display coupled therewith upon simulated arrival at the second intermediate observation location, the simulated field of view comprising a second representation of the second subset of observable locations.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the POI comprises an advertisement located at the POI location.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the second computer program logic is further executable by the processor to cause the processor to account for receipt of compensation from an entity associated with the POI and, based thereon, the fourth computer program logic is further executable by the processor to cause the processor to compute the second orientation to be toward the POI.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein the second computer program logic is further executable by the processor to cause the processor to identify the POI based on a profile of the user and, based thereon, the fourth computer program logic is further executable by the processor to cause the processor to compute the second orientation to be toward the POI.

22. The system of claim 18 further comprising an image database having stored therein a plurality of images, each of which is representative of a portion of the geographic locality as viewed from a particular location of the plurality of locations therein, and wherein the fourth computer program logic is further executable by the processor to cause the processor to select an image from the image database which most closely comprises the second subset of observable locations over the other images stored in the image database, the second representation comprising the selected image.

23. The system of claim 18 further comprising sixth computer program logic stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the processor to determine, that, for a third subset of observable locations of the second set of observable locations which includes those locations of the second set of observable locations which would be visible to the observer located at the second intermediate observation location and oriented in the fourth orientation, the third subset of observable locations does not include the POI location, and, based thereon, the fourth computer program logic being further executable by the processor to cause the processor to compute the second orientation such that the second subset of observable locations includes the POI location.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the extent to which the second orientation is computed to be toward the POI location is a function of the proximity of the second intermediate observation location to the POI location.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the extent to which the second orientation is computed to be toward the POI location is further a function of a difference between the third and fourth orientations and a fifth orientation oriented from the second observation location directly toward the POI location.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein the second orientation is computed to be toward the POI location when the second intermediate observation location is geographically closer to the POI location than the first intermediate observation location and wherein the second orientation is computed to be away from the POI location when the second intermediate observation location is geographically further from the POI location than the first intermediate observation location.

27. The system of claim 23 further comprising seventh computer program logic stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the processor to augment a representation of the POI within the second representation so as to visually distinguish the representation from a remainder of the second representation.

28. The system of claim 18 further comprising sixth computer program logic stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the processor to determine, that, for a third subset of observable locations of the second set of observable locations which includes those locations of the second set of observable locations which would be visible to the observer located at the second intermediate observation location and oriented in the fourth orientation, the third subset of observable locations includes the POI location, and, based thereon, the fourth computer program logic being further executable by the processor to cause the processor to compute the second orientation such that the second subset of observable locations does not include the POI location.

29. The system of claim 18 further comprising sixth computer program logic stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the processor to determine that the second set of observable locations does not include the POI location and, based thereon, the fifth computer program logic is further executable by the processor to alter the second representation to include a representation of the POI as if the POI location were included in the second subset of observable locations.

30. The system of claim 18 wherein the second orientation comprises a direction from the second intermediate observation location towards the POI location.

31. The system of claim 18 wherein the POI is further characterized by a POI orientation, the fifth computer program logic is further executable by the processor to determine whether the POI orientation is oriented toward the second observation location and, if the POI orientation is not oriented toward the second observation location, modify a perceived orientation of a representation of the POI as presented within the simulated field of view so as to appear oriented toward the second observation location.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the fifth computer program logic is further executable by the processor to cause the processor to modify the perceived orientation of the representation of the POI so as to increase optical perceptibility of the representation of the POI to the user.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein the fifth computer program logic is further executable by the processor to cause the processor to generate a representation of a polygon in the simulated field of view so as to appear located at the POI location and overlay the representation of the POI over the polygon, modify a perspective of the polygon with respect to the simulated field of view and apply similar modifications to the representation of the POI.

34. The system of claim 31 wherein the fourth computer program logic is further executable by the processor to cause the processor to minimize a difference between the second and fourth orientations by adjusting the orientation of the representation of the POI.

35. A system for manipulation of a user'"'"'s attention with respect to a point of interest represented in a simulated field of view of a geographic locality during simulation of travel between locations therein, the system comprising:

means for receiving, from a user via a user interface means, a request to simulate travel via a route from a starting location of a plurality of locations within the geographic locality toward a destination location of the plurality of locations within the geographic locality, the route comprising a plurality of intermediate observation locations within the geographic locality sequentially via which the travel is to be simulated;

means for identifying the POI, the POI being located at a POI location of a plurality of locations within the geographic locality;

means for presenting on a display, a simulated field of view comprising a first representation of a first subset of observable locations of a first set of observable locations within the geographic locality, the first set of observable locations comprising those locations of the plurality of locations within the geographic locality which would be visible to an observer oriented in any orientation and located at a first intermediate observation location of the plurality of intermediate observation locations of the route, the first subset of observable locations comprising those locations of the first set of observable locations which would be visible to an observer oriented in a first orientation and located at the first intermediate observation location;

means for computing, based on a relationship between the POI location of the identified POI and the second intermediate observation location, a second orientation of the observer located at the second intermediate observation location whereby, based thereon, a second subset of observable locations of the second set of observable locations would be visible thereto, the second set of observable locations comprising those locations of the plurality of locations of the geographic locality which would be visible to the observer oriented in any orientation and located at a second intermediate observation location of the plurality of intermediate observation locations of the route to which travel of the observer from the first intermediate observation location is to be simulated, the second orientation being different from both a third orientation, oriented in a direction of travel from the first intermediate observation location to the second intermediate observation location, and a fourth orientation, oriented in a direction of travel from the second intermediate observation location to a third intermediate observation location of the plurality of intermediate observation locations of the route to which travel of the observer from the second intermediate observation location is to be simulated; and

means for presenting, by the processor on the display coupled therewith upon simulated arrival at the second intermediate observation location, the simulated field of view comprising a second representation of the second subset of observable locations.